USA Captures World Championship
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic – Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles had 13 points and 10 rebounds as the USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team completed an undefeated run throught he 2010 FIBA World Championship tournament with an 89-69 win over the host Czech Republic in the gold medal game.
“It means a lot,” Charles told USA Basketball after the game. “I’m speechless right now. I don’t even know how to feel, but I’m just happy for the opportunity that I got to play with this group of girls and experience this.”
Charles, who set WNBA records for total rebounds and double-doubles during her rookie season with the Sun, was one of four players in double figures for the U.S.
“I grew as a player,” Charles said. “I knew what coach wanted on and off the court, and we all did a good job of doing what we came here to do.”
Sun teammate Asjha Jones finished with four points and three rebounds.
“It was awesome,” Jones said. “This is my first time being out there. So it was a new experience, and I was just really excited to be out there. I think our team did a good job of sticking with it and playing through everything that came our way. It was just great to win with this team.”
With the gold medal victory, played in front of a boisterous and deafening crowd of Czech supporters who never gave up hope on their squad, the USA became the first team to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games that will be held July 27-Aug. 12 in London, England.
In addition to Charles, Angel McCoughtry (18 points), Diana Taurasi (16 points) and Sue Bird (11 points) also scored in double figures.
Taurasi was named to the five-member All-World Championship Team along with Hana Horakova and Eva Viteckova of the Czech Republic, Yelena Leuchanka of Belarus, and Amaya Valdemoro of Spain.
“I thought the Czech team played with so much heart and so much passion and they're so smart,” said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma . “Every time you make a mistake, they make a basket. I can't tell you with how impressed I am with coach (Lubor Blazek) and his style of play. That was the best team we played in the entire tournament, without question. We're fortunate to be world champions. I know my players worked really, really hard. To do it here, in the Czech Republic, against the Czech national team, in front of an unbelievable crowd. The crowd last night was incredible and tonight was just as good. I think it makes this win even more rewarding because of who we had to beat and where we had to beat them.”
The American women now own a 97-21 (.822) all-time record since the first FIBA World Championship was held in 1953, earned their ninth straight podium finish at the Worlds dating to the 1979 tournament, and the 2010 gold medal represented a record eighth gold for the U.S. in World Championship competition.
The silver marked the first medal of any color for Czech Republic in World Championship play. In addition to the silver being the first medal for the host nation, Spain (7-2) also earned its first World Championship medal after defeating Belarus (4-5) 77-68 in the bronze medal game.
“It means a lot,” Charles told USA Basketball after the game. “I’m speechless right now. I don’t even know how to feel, but I’m just happy for the opportunity that I got to play with this group of girls and experience this.”
Charles, who set WNBA records for total rebounds and double-doubles during her rookie season with the Sun, was one of four players in double figures for the U.S.
“I grew as a player,” Charles said. “I knew what coach wanted on and off the court, and we all did a good job of doing what we came here to do.”
Sun teammate Asjha Jones finished with four points and three rebounds.
“It was awesome,” Jones said. “This is my first time being out there. So it was a new experience, and I was just really excited to be out there. I think our team did a good job of sticking with it and playing through everything that came our way. It was just great to win with this team.”
With the gold medal victory, played in front of a boisterous and deafening crowd of Czech supporters who never gave up hope on their squad, the USA became the first team to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games that will be held July 27-Aug. 12 in London, England.
In addition to Charles, Angel McCoughtry (18 points), Diana Taurasi (16 points) and Sue Bird (11 points) also scored in double figures.
Taurasi was named to the five-member All-World Championship Team along with Hana Horakova and Eva Viteckova of the Czech Republic, Yelena Leuchanka of Belarus, and Amaya Valdemoro of Spain.
“I thought the Czech team played with so much heart and so much passion and they're so smart,” said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma . “Every time you make a mistake, they make a basket. I can't tell you with how impressed I am with coach (Lubor Blazek) and his style of play. That was the best team we played in the entire tournament, without question. We're fortunate to be world champions. I know my players worked really, really hard. To do it here, in the Czech Republic, against the Czech national team, in front of an unbelievable crowd. The crowd last night was incredible and tonight was just as good. I think it makes this win even more rewarding because of who we had to beat and where we had to beat them.”
The American women now own a 97-21 (.822) all-time record since the first FIBA World Championship was held in 1953, earned their ninth straight podium finish at the Worlds dating to the 1979 tournament, and the 2010 gold medal represented a record eighth gold for the U.S. in World Championship competition.
The silver marked the first medal of any color for Czech Republic in World Championship play. In addition to the silver being the first medal for the host nation, Spain (7-2) also earned its first World Championship medal after defeating Belarus (4-5) 77-68 in the bronze medal game.
